TSAY (Treatment for Sexually Acting Out Youth)

Overview

The TSAY Program (Treatment for Sexually Acting Out Youth) is a researched and strength based 9-12 month Residential Program designed to treat up to sixteen adolescent boys ages 12-18. The Program is designed to treat “The Whole Person”, behaving, and interacting with others. The TSAY Program is designed to support each youth in a firm and supportive manner in learning new skills and ways of seeing himself and others so he will be less likely to repeat his hurtful decisions n the future. Treatment progress is measured every step of the way and is designed to prepare the young man for a safe reentry into the community. Active participation and support by family is viewed as critical in helping each youth move forward in their life of non-sexual aggression toward others.

Admission Criteria

The TSAY program accepts adolescent males ages 12-17, with an I.Q. of 70 or above, who have a documented history of sexually acting out behaviors and who present an impending risk to the community.

Treatment Staff

The TSAY Program (Treatment for Sexually Acting Out Youth) is a researched and strength based 9-12 month Residential Program designed to treat up to eight adolescent boys ages 12-17. The Program is designed to treat “The Whole Person”.

Therapeutic services

The Youth is regularly involved in Individual, Group, and Family Therapy during his stay. He is also involved in school, activity therapy, and community events. There are monthly Treatment Team reviews and updates. Special conferences and emergency Treatment Team reviews are convenes when needed.

Phase system of treatment

The TSAY Program seeks to address the needs underlying an adolescent’s sexually abusing behavior and make the most of his existing strengths and positive supports as he navigates through three over arching Treatment Phases (Mastery of Awareness, Mastery of Transformation, Mastery of Intent) that build upon each other during the course of his treatment. Within the three phases of treatment are individualized treatment targets that are empirically associated with an increased risk of on-going sexually aggressive behaviors if not addressed successfully in treatment. The treatment approaches of cognitive-behavioral strategies, strength-based strategies, social learning strategies, pharmacological interventions, moral reasoning, and psychodynamic approaches are tailored for each adolescent to support a positive outcome toward accomplishing the following treatment targets:

Reduction in Deviant Arousal: Teaching the impulse control and coping skills needed to successfully manage sexual and aggressive impulses.

Relapse prevention: This includes teaching adolescents to understand their cycle of thoughts, feelings, and events that are antecedent to the sexual acting-out, identify environmental circumstances and thinking patterns that should be avoided because of increased risk of reoffending, and identify and practice coping and self-control skills necessary for successful behavior management.

Social competency: Enhancing social skills to promote greater self-confidence and interaction skills with family, peers, and community.

Empathy Training: Promoting a greater appreciation for the negative impact of sexual abuse on victims and their families.

Values Clarification: Teaching and clarifying values related to respect for self and others, and a commitment to stop interpersonal violence.

Research and Evidenced Based:

The TSAY Program is based on current research and has internal measures to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment over time and guide Program decision making. There are designated Treatment Markers established to track progress every step of the way, evaluation tools (Examples: JSOAP-II, Sexual Adjustment Inventory –SAI, and Clinical use of Polygraph) to evaluate treatment progress, and reintegration protocols to coordinate community reentry with community referral sources and families. Follow-up post-discharge evaluation processes are established.